ZenWiFi BD5 Dual-Band WiFi 7 Mesh, 5000 Mbps, 5000 sq.ft (2pk), Dual 2.5G Ports, Security and Parental Controls Included, Smart Home Master SSIDs

I was having issues with my older Wyze cameras staying connected to TP-Link Deco and Netgear Orbi 360 mesh systems no matter what configuration changes I made. I installed an ASUS Zenwifi BD5 mesh, set up the separate 2.4Ghz IoT SSID and bound my cameras to specific nodes. My cameras stay connected now. It is also nice to not have to pay a subscription for VPN, parental controls and advanced security protection. The ASUS system includes them all.

Setup was a bit rough. Initially I was unable to connect to the primary over HTTP. After resetting the unit, I was able to connect, but after following the instructions the secondary was trying to use wireless to connect to the primary, even though both were connected to the LAN via ethernet. The next day, I found the buried menu page with the switch to use ethernet backhaul. That should be the default behaviour if it's plugged in to ethernet and can reach the primary via the ethernet port. It should at the very least be easier to find. Maybe put it on the same menu page as "backhaul priority". But it's working pretty well now. Legacy (IoT) mode does not support all older devices. Specifically, Slim Devices Squeezebox 2/3 does not work at all. Squeezebox Radio needs the "community firmware" upgrade in order to connect reliably. It doesn't seem like there should be an issue, since both devices support WPA2 security, and the legacy mode of the ZenWiFi is supposed to support WPA2/WPA3.

As expected, coverage is great. My topology is modem to main unit to rj45 patch box to each of my pre-wired rj45 rooms (the back haul). No more struggling to view cameras just out of wi-fi reach and devices offline. Everything works

Easy to setup and did the job. Worked out of the box and successfully replaced my Spectrum router when plugged directly into the fiber optic modem. Used the same password and everything connected seamlessly.

Difficult to set up and manage once installed. I do have 42 years of IT experience. I know what I am doing with networks. This router took a ton of time to set up. It is not easy. And then, I reboot the router monthly as a way of making sure everything is updated, cleared and OK. On the fourth month, I could not get the router to come back up. Everything I tried failed. I tried a factory reset but the method for doing that is not simple and you never know if it worked. So, I bought a Netgear Nighthawk. It was set up in less than 1/2 hour. I now have a BD5 shelf ornament. Ease of set-up and management is key for success. Asus isn't there..... and it isn't because I have not owned Asus routers. My previous four routers at two locations were Asus.